FRANKFORT, Ill. — An explosion destroyed a house early Saturday, and the bodies of the elderly couple who occupied the home were found in the wreckage, authorities said. Seven other homes were destroyed.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation, said Richard Caragol, a Nicor Inc. natural-gas company spokesman.

Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil identified the dead couple as Clyde and Luella Reils of Frankfort, which is about 25 miles southwest of Chicago.